Routing-machine.



No. 877,894. W *1 1 7 PATENTE@ JTN;l 28, 1908.

G. 1,1. 'KbLL-hi.

ROUTING MAGHNE.

APPLICATION ULEB JULY m. 190s.

SSEEETS-SHBBT 1.

LWQM

No. 877,894. PATBNTED JAN. 28, 1908. G. L. KBLLBY.

ROUTNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT Z.

iganlegs.'

sierras raf-runt 1on1-rien.

esoneri L. runter, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AssIGNOR, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS,(ro srarsNsoN MACHINE COMPANY., orBUrrALO, NEW YORK.

f noU'rrNGLMACBINE.

.Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

u ccnccrn:

t l, Grenen L. KELLEY, a nited States, residing at Buft i of Erie andState of New 'ed new and useful lm- Aichines, of which lhl my@ nonrelates more particularly to portable routing 'machines for working 1nwood. The machine forming the subject of the inventici capa-ble of agreat variety of uses, such, 'lo instance, as cutting regular andirregular grooves or channels of different di-v l mansion and shapes inthe surfaces of boards liurposes, but the machine'is esui ed to cuttingthe grooves in stair ng. ipo receive the stair risers and treads, andthe machine constructed for this purpose will bellcrein described.

The primary object of `the invention is to pnnducc a rciical, eflicientand highly desirahle porniilc routing machine ca ablefof i minor-edabout and used on work enches, 3. where the work can be done to fmitagc, and which can be operated to produce work of various kinds withrap and accuracy by unskilled labor.

. 'olijrxts of the invention are t'o improve routing machines in theparticulars hereinafter described and set forth in the claii'us.

A machine embodying the invention comprises i supporting frame orstructure adaptlor diiiei ent ed tohe moved about in any direction, anda,

lation to the work changed by shifting the supporting irame, whereby thecutters can be merle to travel 1n the same path or 1n d1f- Vhs, whetherparallel with each not/.whereby parallel sided or irregni-rhe diameterof on'e cutter to ap nce between the farbly portable, carryng nu ,-i anvsuitable kind for through which the cutters work and. by which il cutscan be made varying iir .opening a.

they 'areguided as the machine is moved about. The pattern plate isadjustable tor enable ,the cuts to be made in the desired location landrelation on the work, and the pat tern plate is also preferablyprovidedwith work'. f

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets: Figure l is asecticnal'elevation of a routing machine embodying the inlvention,`showing portions of the supporting table therefor and the work. Fig. 21s a plan `view, on a reduced scale, of the machine table and work,showin the routing machine -in horizontal section. -l ig. 3 is atransverse sectional elevation of the 'machine table in line 3-.3, Fig.2. Fig. i 1s a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation, on an en--larged scale, in line 4 4, Fig. 2, showing the means-for adjustinfr themachine table vertically toward and from the work. Fig. 5 is a' planView, partly in section, of the base frame for the table slown, thecutters in section. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of themachine table in line 66, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a patternAplate provided with separate guide or gage strips for the cutters.Fig'. 8 1s a fragmen tary section, on an enlarged scale, of the patternplate in line 8 8, Fig. 7. Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views,showing different positions of the cutters for producing cuts ofdifferent kinds.

Like letters of referencereflerto like parts vv in the several figures.

A, Fig. l, represents the frame of the routing machine. This frame maybe of an suitable form and construction but ispre erably in the formof abell-shaped casi-ng, having ailaring open bottom and .providedv at theupper portionth'ereof with air inletl The machine is intended to be fmoved about u' on a sup orting surface or late and the frame istlerefore provided with roller supports B to insure greater freedom ofvmovement of the machine. The roller supportsshown consist of ballsconfined in ball sockets b at the base of the frame. The frame or casingsupports the cutters and their driving motor or mechar/iism and alsoincloses these parts to protect,` them and guard the operator frominjury by contact with the cutters or driven .partsof the machine.

C represents the driven cutters or routing 60 means for clamping orsecuring 4it on the knives. There are a plurality of these cutters, twobeing preferably employed in the machine shown in the drawings,journaled t0 rotate about vertical axes and they extend far enough belowthe bottom ol' the frame of the machine to enter or engage the workarranged below. the same.. These cutters are secured to the lower endsot vertical shafts c which are journaled in suitable bearings in a yokeor part l) which is inclosed within and l 'l`he cutter supported by themain frame A. shafts are driven'from a conuuon drive shaft E throughsuitable gear wheels c c a and the drive shaft is also journaled insuitable 5 bearings 1n the yoke or part l) of the frame andconstitutes'the armature shalt of an electric motor F of any usualorapproved type supported by and inelosed within the 1y The descrlbedmanner of mainframe A. mounting and driving the cutters 1s not ot theessence of the invention and they could 't be mounted in any othersuitable way and driven vby-any other suitable motor or drivingmechanism. The cutters, however, bear a substantiallylixed orconstantrelation to each other and to the machine, but the machine iscapable of being moved and turned in any direction, so that the relationof the cutters to the work can be variously changed.

A balance wheel is 'secured to thc upper portion of the armature shaftabove the commutator of the motor, in the machine shown, and the spokesq of this wheel are shaped to form fan blades, or fan blades are securedto the balance wheel in any-suitable manner, so that in the rotationthereof a downwardv draft is createdv iu the machine around the motorand the bearings for the same and the cutter shafts. cutters is thusprevented from rising in the casing and collecting on the bearings, andthe working parts are kept cool. This wheel can he used or omitteddesired.

Theiportable machine above described is used in connection with aportable support, or table upon which the machine rests and is movedabout, and thesupport has openings through which the cutters `xtend tothe work and guiding surfaces against which parts of the machine bear todirect the cutters asthe mac-bine is moved about on, the Sup ort. ln themachine shown the cutter sha ts are provided above the cutters withloose rollers or collars lll for this purpose and adapted to rollagainst guide edges surrotmding the openings in the table or patternplate through whichthe cutters extend.

The machine support or table shown in the drawings, see Figs. 2, 53, 5aud 6, comprises a base frame l. which is secured to the work or boardto be cut and which is adjustable lungiT tudinally thereon, a top orplate K which is adjustable transversely on the base frame, and apattern plate L which is provided with Dust from the l f the guideopenings for the cutters and which is rotatably or angularly adjustableon the top or plate K. The base frame, see Fig. 5, 1s rectangular,having end bars 'i connected by a front. bar It', a rear bar i2, and anintermediate or clamping bar ri. The end bars i are adapted to rest uponthe top of the Work OI board to be cut, and their undersides arereeessed or cut away to receive the work or board so that the clampingbar and front bar of the frame will extend down opposite the edges ofthe work or' board. The recesses of the end bars are wide enough toreceive the widest board to be operated upon. A clamp screw i" passesthrough'a threaded opening in the front bar of the base frame, beingprovided at its outer end with an operating knob or handle and at itsinner end with a clamp hea-d fr to engage the edge of the board orplank. By tightening up the clam'p'screwt'4 the work or board is clampedbetween the i clamp bar and screw, and the frame is se v curely fixed toand supported by the worker board. lt can thus be secured to the board.I or plank at any desired portion of the length tthereof. The top orpate K rests and is movable transversely, or forwardly and rearwardlyupon the end bars of the base frame 'and has end lianges /c dependingbeside the end bars .of the base frame to guide the plate and holdit'from twisting on the base frame. The pattern or guide plate L ispreferably circular and is located and rotatable in a circularopening'lin the top of plate K with its upper surface flush with theupper surface of the top or plate K. 'l`he plate rests at its edge upona depressed llange L around the opening of the top or plate K and itscenter t has a thickened or depressed bearingr l2 which rests uponaborizontal bearing bar or portion l of the base frame. This bearing baror portion is slotted transversely of the frame, see Fig. 5, and acenter bolt rm,Figs. .3 and 6, passes throwfh this slot and a centerhole in the pattern priate and is provided with a nut m for clam ing thepattern plateto the base frame. libis 'bolt serves to hold both thecircular pattern late and the table to i in the position lto whieiithey'are adjusted. Witen the nut is loosened the pattern plate can berotatably adjusted about the bolt to any desired angle, and the tabletop-.K can be moved transversely on the base frame to lo cate theguideopeuing of'the pattern` plate in work. The nut m for the bolt ispreferably seated in a depression in the pattern plate with its topflush with the upper surface of the pattern plate so as not `to form anobstruction and prevent the free movement of the machine over thepatte'rn ilate.

l /lhe pattern vlatecan be provided with one or more gui( e slots oropenings similarin yshape to the cuts or grooves to be made. l lhepattern plate shown in the drawings is the required position andrelatidn over the` snes@ the guide rollers H on the cutter shafts roll.

These guide edges converge from the outer ends of the legs of the slottoward the angle thereof to produce tapering or wedge-shape grooves inthe Stringer, and as shown, they are beveled or undercut, see Fig. l, tohold the cutters down to the work.

The slot N can be locatedin the proper position over the stringer by therequired adjustment of the 'table base traine, top and pattern plate, togive any desired length ol.' the tread and riser portions of the groovesand angular-.ity thereof on the stringer. After the pattern plate isadjusted and secured the machine is placed thereon with the eut* tersdepending through one end of one leg of the slot and is turnedhorizontally until the guide rollers bear against the opposite guideedges. After starting the `iiiotor the niacliine is moved along over thepattern plate, being pressed or turned as required to hold the guiderollers firmly against the guide edges. W'hen the angle of' the slot isreached the niacliine is turned so that the cutter shafts will enter theother leg of the slot and is moved along this leg of the slot and therollers pressed against the guide edges as betere. rl`lie machine beingfree to turn and shift on the pattern plate the rollers will 'follow theguide edges and cause the cutters to cut in corresponding paths whetherthe guide edges diverge, as shown in Fig. 2, are parallel, or bear otherrelation to each other. rlie guide slot N has the usual nosing extensionn at.its angle in line with one of its legs, for cutting the nosinggrooves, and this extension is 'preferably' lornied in a separate piecen2 de-` tachably secured in the pattern plate and adapted to be replacedby anotherpiece in which the nosiiig extension will be in line with theother leg ot' the slot for routing the grooves in the opposite stringer.Separate nosing pieces n? can be provided for differs ent shapednosiiigs.. For cutting stringer grooves of diilierent widthsinterchangeable pattern plates can be provided having guide slots ofproper widths, or 'if preferred, the guide Slot can be inade Wide enoughfor the widest grooves and separate teniplet strips n provided to besecured in the legs of the slot, as shown in Figs. 7 and S, when it isdesired to cut narrower grooves. Preferably each leg otl the guide slotisl provided along one edge .'itli a scale n* to indicate the lengths olthe correspondii'ig groove which Will'be cut in ditl'erent positions ofthe pattern plate, and the circular edge of the pattern plate isprovided with graduations 11" or is otherwise provided with api'otractor scale to enable the 'pattern plate and guide slot to be setat a desired angle. The table top also provi led at opposite ends withadjust-A able scale bars O for aiding in correctly posi-v tioning thetable ,For successive grooves in the Stringer. rilhe scale bars shownare slidable in and out in .grooves C are secured by set scrinvs U2.

Vlhe:support or pattern plate shown in thev drawings is lfor use ingrow/ing stair stringers but the machine is not iiniited to this use,and by providing pattern pla-tes with openings and guide edges or facesol` proper shape it can be employed for periorniing niany difierentkinds o? wo The cutters can he nuide to travel onei id the other and outa path with parallel sides ol" a width equal to the diaineter oi onecritter, as indicated in the diagrifn, Fig. il, er ti can be shifted byturning the niacnine on tace, to cui' shapes, as i by providin rentwidths and .i -l in lugs, 5 and lt). Thus cutters ot dn'l'erent sizesand.

i kinds, and finding means oi" dill'erciit forms `t variety oi work canthe entire table with the pattern plate is adpisted vertically on 'thework, for which pur-` pose a roller l), lfigs. 2 and el, is arranged inthe recess or cnt away portion ol cach end bar of the base iranii-f andis iournaled in boxes r which are ad usted verticall f on the .i 7 l endbars oy ad ustine screws o or other e .l means with which the table isprovided. The rollers P sun iort the table on the board the table topand.

e supporting siiror i Yorli, and the distance oi the pattern plateltroniv the latter :ind consequently the vdepth to which the cuttersenter the work can be regulatedas desired, by adjusting the rollers upand down. The rollers l) rest rosswise on the board or work and when thetable is unclainped it can be readily rolled along the board to thedesir -d position.

The desrribed construction of' the table with the adjusting and securingineans forv plate or guiding iniwnis lor the cutters are secured to andadjusted relative to the work,

'llie invention l'uiilierniore not liiiiitcd` ln a routing inarliine,the combinationoi a iliiralit f' ol i-.utters drivinur nicans there# ici for, a support in which said cutters are mounted and which is freelymovable with respect to the work to change the relation of said cuttersto the Work, and means for `guiding said cutters in the moven'lent ofsaid support, whereby said cutters will cut in paths parallel with eachother or bearing' any desired relation to each otherl dependine upon themovements of said support, substantially as set forth.4

2. in' a routing machine, the combination of a plurality of cutters,driving means therefor, and a frame 'in which said cutters are mountedin substantially 'fixed relations to each other and which is freclj,Ymovable and rotatable with respect to the work to f hange the relationof the cutters to the work, substanti'a-lly as set forth.

3. In a. routing machine, the combination of a plurality of rotarycutters, means for driving the same, a frame in which said cutters aremounted and from. which they eX- tend downwardly to enter the work, andsaid fram'e being freely movable to change the relation. of the cuttersto the work, and means for guiding said cutters in the movevments of theframe, substantially as set 'forth` 4. In a routing machine, thecombination of a plurality of cutters journaled to rotate about verticalaxes, driving means therefor, a supporting frame for said. cutters whichmovable freely and rotatable to change the relation of the cutters tothe Work, and guide means for said cutters, substantially as set forth.

5. in a routing machine, the combination of a frame which rests upon andis freely movable on a supporting surface, a plurality of cutters whichare mounted in said frame and project below the same to enter the Work,means for driving said cutters, and means for guiding said cutters inthe movements of said frame, substantially as set forth. 6. .fn arouting machine, the combination of a supporting frame Which rests uponand is freely movable and rotatable on a supporting surface, a pluralityof cutters which are mounted in said frame and project below the same.to enter the Work, and a motor s upported bysaid frame for driving saidcutters, the relationA of said cutters to each other heiligsubstantially constant but their rela tion to the work being changed b vthe movements of saidv frame, -s'u-bstantialhY as set forth.

7. ln a routing machine the combination of a supporting frame whichrests upon and is freely movable and rotatable on a supportingsurfaee, aplurality of cutters jour naled on said frame to rotate about verticalaxes and projecting below said frame to enter the work, a motorsupported on said frame for driving said cutters', and means for guidingsaid cutters, substantially as set forth.

8. in a routing machine, the combination of a. plurality of cutters, aframe in which said cutters are mounted in substantially vfixed relationand which is movable and rotatable to change the relation of the cuttersto the work, guide faces, and parts on said machine which travel againstsaid guide faces to direct said cutters as the4 machine is moved withrespect to the work, substantially as set forth.

ln a routing machine, the combination of a. plu ality of cutters, asupportingr 'fra-me therefor, means for driving said cutters, and apattern plate on which said frame is freely movable and which isprovided with an opening through which said cutters project to enter thewor-li, said cuttersl being movable in said opening to change theirrelation to the work, by the movements of said frame, and guide faces onsaid. pattern plate to direct said cutters, substantially set forth.

1t). in a routing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, aplurality of cutters, shafts therefor journaled in said frame, means fordriving said. cutters, a pattern'nlate provided with an opening throughwhich said cutters extend to enter the Work, guide faces on said patternplate and parts surrounding said cutter shafts which bear against saidguide faces to direct said cutters during the movements of said frameover said pattern plate, substantially as set forth. y

il. In a routing machine, the combination of a pattern plate provided4with an opening, a frame u'hicl'i is freely movable and rotatable onsaid pattern plate, a plurality of cutters, shafts for said cuttersjournaled in said frame, means for driving said cutters, rollers on saidcutter shafts, and guide faces onv said pattern plate against which saidrollers bear to direct said cutters and change their' relation to. thework as the cuttersare moved along in said opening, substantially as setforth.

12. lh'e combination of a routing machine, and a portable support andguide table therefor comprising clan'iping means constructed to besecured to the Work, and a pattern plate which is 'supported by saidclam )ing means over the work and is provided wit an unobstructedsurfaire on which said machine is supported and freely movable,'with.anopening through which the machine cutters extend to the work, and withmeans for guiding the cutters, said pattern plate being adjustable indifferent directions on said clamping means, substantially as set forth.

13, lhe combination with a portable machine support having anunobstructed. machinwsupporting surface and provided with means forsecuring it over the Work, of a portable machine wh'ich is supported byand is freely movable on said supporting surface and comprises a motorand a cutter driven by said motor and projecting below said supl fporting surface to the Work, and coperating lv Afor securingthe same onthe Work, a pattern arts onsaid machine and support for guidmg saidcutter in the movements of said machine on said supporting surface,substantially as set forth. j l

14. The combination with' portable machine support adapted to be lacedover the work and having an unobstructed machinesu porting surface, and;means at the under.

si e of said support 'for securing lt on the work, oi a portable machinewhich is supported by and is freely movable on said supporting surfaceand comprises a motor and a cutter driven by saidv motor and projectingbeloyvsaid' supporting surface to the work, andeoperatmg parts on saidmachine andv support for guiding said cutter inthe movements of saidmachine on said supporting surface, substantiallyas set forth.

l5. The combination of a routing machine, and a supporting and guidetable, therefor comprising a base frame, means for securing the same tothe work, a top Which is adjustable horizontally over the Work on saidbase frame, and a pattern plate which is rotatably adjustable isprovided ters of said routing machine, as sot forth.

on'said adjustabletable top ant with a guide opening for thecutsubstantially 16. `The combination of a routing machine,

and a table comprising a base frame, means for securing.' the same tothe Work, a top which is adjustable' transversely on saidv hase frame, apattern plate Whichis 'rotatably a(l-. justable on said top,

substantially as set forth.

17. The combination of a routing machine,

and a single securing dey vice for said top and rotatable patternplate,.

vof saidl routing machine, an `justing the d .opth of cutpof thecutters7 substantially structed to be placed over the Work, means plateon Which the routing .machine is supported and which is transversely androtatably adjustable on said base frame and is rovided with a guideopening for the cutters oi said routing machine, and means for adjustingthe height oi' the pattern plate over the Work to regulate the depth ofcut of th cutters, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination of a ro uting machine7 and a portable tablecomprising a constructed to be placed over the Work, means for securingthe same on the Work, a top which is adjustable transversely on saidbase frame, a pattern 'plate on Which the routing machine is supportedand Which is rotataoly adjustable on said table top and is provided witha guide openin for the cutters means for adsaid base frame vertically toregulate as set forth.- i

. 1.9. T he combination of a routing machine, and a table comprising abase frame, means l lfor securingthe same to the Work', verticallyadjustable rollers which rest on the Work and support said base frame,and pattern plate .which is'rotatably and transversely adjustable onsaid base .trame and is provided with .a guide opening for the cuttersof said routing, substantially as set i'orth.

Witness my hand, this-16th day of July,

ieoc. j

